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 exMan
  
Location: near Williamsport, PA
Gender: Male
 |  | abandoned coal mine - Glen Burn/Cameron colliery
< on 3/26/2012 5:37 AM >
|  | | | hi all! first time poster, but i've been exploring caves, mines and abandonments for many years. i wish i had taken far more and better quality pix than i had, but such is the case.
anyway, i was really surprised that the Glen Burn/Cameron Colliery has apparently not been covered here. unfortunately i have little to offer, but here's what i got...
the Glen Burn is an abandoned deep coal mine in the heart of the PA anthracite coal region in Shamokin. when it was active i believe it was either the largest, or second largest deep anthracite coal mine in the world. the slag pile (mixture of unusable coal fines and rock) that was created from its construction was listed in Guinness as the worlds largest man-made mountain. the mine is large enough that some of the people that worked there told me they never saw the complete workings and there are disputes as to how many levels there are.
the mine in its heyday - all the building are gone (next 4 images are not mine)...
hours worked varied during the mines 130+ year history, but at times they worked 3, 8hr. shifts for 24 hrs a day...
in the background you can see the corner of the "culm bank" - the man-made mountain of unusable material. this mountain is about 1.5 miles in length and is almost completely overgrown with fresh trees now...
the mine had at least 2 "drifts" - the east and west - though i think there may have been a 3rd. we explored mostly the west drift which extends from Shamokin to somewhere around Trevorton - a distance of approximately 6.5 miles. a "drift" simply refers to system of tunnels. the main tunnel in a drift is often known as "main haulage" and is the route taken by the coal cars when entering/exiting the mine.
the west drift main haulage is cut through pretty much solid rock and, in the area we explored, very little timber was used or needed to prevent the roof from collapsing - it was probably the safest mine, inactive or otherwise, i have ever been in and i have little doubt about its integrity 15 years later.
main haulage was almost perfectly level with only a slight tilt toward the entrance, presumably to drain any water, and had several levels below it on the Shamokin side, and several levels above on the Trevorton side.
this was early into our exploration on our very first trip...
now anyone knowing anything about mining should already be screaming in horror. we were young and inexperienced and in my left hand is a candle lantern. in coal mines methane gas is often present. mix the 2 and you have a huge BOOM, after which one may become permanently embedded on the walls. my logic here, which seemed sound at the time, was twofold; i figured the flame would grow larger if we ran into a gas pocket, or would go out if we hit "black damp" - a lack of air. in fact, carrying an open flame to detect gas was a common practice in the old days, but it was done with a special "safety lamp"...
further in we ran into something very common in mines which i call "spooge". it is very similar to natural formations you would see in a cave, but it forms at a greatly accelerated rate and is much more gross looking...
another very interesting fact about this unique mine is that it was a designated fallout shelter during the cold war and some supplies still remained. this pic is of hundreds of tins of crackers which were slowly being devoured by rats...
also among the remains was lots of toilet paper and medicine for the "runs", presumably to cure diarrhea resulting from radio activity.
these are water tins which were supposed to be lined with plastic. the interesting thing here is that it appears they were never filled...
further along we began to hear the sound of running water. what we found was a little stream spilling into the lower levels of the mine. all levels below main haulage are completely flooded and the sound of the rushing, silt saturated water was quite loud. if you are disoriented, this is looking nearly straight down...
the "burn", as the locals call it, was in operation for about 130 years i believe. major operations ceased around 1970, but work on a very limited scale was resumed again in the early 90's, roughly, which explains why we found dynamite in a plastic Weise's grocery bag...
the nitro was leaking from the sticks and i remember briefly wondering if my camera flash could set it off 
we also found several coal cars hooked up in a train which were fully loaded with coal, leaving me to wonder why they were never hauled out. the train tracks were like 3 or 4 abreast in one place, meaning the rail system was huge! for the most part we stayed fairly close to main haulage since we weren't detecting much moving air on the side tunnels, plus they were far less stable.
this pic is of an electric winch system which was used to haul coal cars up from the lower levels to main haulage. the lower levels were completely flooded up to within a few yards of main haulage. i have to say that it was quite scary being underground and looking into the total blackness of the still water. i felt it might suck me in if i got too close and i could imagine being under ground, and underwater, in total darkness. i don't know how cave divers can do it.
what looks like fogged film is actually our body heat and breath...
and one more pic of some electrical equipment...
the POE we used has collapsed, though there are others and i very much want to get back inside this mine once more to explore some of what what we missed - we only went in about 1.5 miles.
the coal region of PA is a very depressed place with many tiny towns called "patches" that have populations of less than a hundred. it is however rich in history and it is fascinating to research that history. many of you probably know about Centralia - the town that was abandoned due to a mine fire. these little towns existed only because of the coal and when the mining industry dried up, it left allot of people poor.
lessons i'd like to pass on...
being older and wiser, there's some important things i'd like to share if anyone is considering exploring abandoned mines...
1) first, you're probably an idiot. stop. stop now!
2) lots of the same rules as typical UE apply here - don't go alone, gear up properly, be sober, etc.. i will mention that, since you will be in total darkness, you need to carry at least 3 sources of light - a main and 2 spares - plus batteries for all.
3) this kind of exploration is extremely dangerous and several hazards exist besides the usual, including:
- pockets where there is a lack of air (black damp)
- complete mines where there is a lack of air
- pockets of methane gas (safe to breathe but highly explosive and, in higher concentrations, displaces enough air that you could suffocate). methane is colorless, orderless and tasteless, thus providing exactly zero warning without proper detection equipment. you should never create a spark, flame or smoke in any coal mine
- other poisonous gases
- unlike many caves, mines are obviously man-made and, as such, may be extremely unstable. simply touching the wrong rock or timber can be enough to bring the roof down on you
- areas where a tunnel runs underneath the passage you're in, resulting in a thin floor that can collapse without any warning
regarding air, you might think you'd easily be able to detect a lack of it and have time to escape. think again.
4) i would highly suggest never going without someone who is experienced with mines and has the proper safety equipment, including a gas detector. please do not take this lightly - mines are no place for those without knowledge of these unique environments. in the early days of our mine exploration, we were very lucky
5) dress in layers - underground temps in mines can vary more than your typical cave due to increased ventilation and other factors, and can be quite chilly in winter
6) carry extra gear, including food, water, space blanky, medical, etc.. imagine being trapped for a few days and think what you'd need to survive in the event of a collapse that could block the exit. often there are multiple POE's and, if at all possible, you should know about them ahead of time and probably avoid mines where there is only one entrance.
7) obviously it is critical to leave a time table and location with a friend... like we never did
8) much more - do lots of your own research
lastly, if you ignore my good advice, at least take a crayon with you to write your name on the wall so you can be identified
[last edit 3/4/2013 12:57 AM by Darkwolf - edited 1 times]
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fiftyone_eggs
 
Location: jerzey
Gender: Male
| |  | Re: abandoned coal mine - Glen Burn/Cameron colliery
<Reply # 1 on 3/26/2012 2:10 PM >
| | | | That's a real nice explore - albeit 15 years old. Are you still exploring coal mines? I took up coal mine exploration a year ago. It is a risky hobby and the hardest part I think is actually locating accessible mine portals - at least it's hard for me bc I live two hours outside of NEPA coal country. I heard thru the grapevine that one of my faves is recently gated. I wonder if the Glen Burnie is still accessible 15 years later.
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insanebuslady
Location: ?
Gender: Male
"You talkin' to me?"
| |  | Re: abandoned coal mine - Glen Burn/Cameron colliery
<Reply # 2 on 3/26/2012 3:50 PM >
| | | | Looks like a righteous adventure. From what I understand, coal mines are much more dangerous than other types of mines. Quarries are relatively safe
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OwlsFlight
 
Location: Ehn Jay
One foot in the grave, the other on a banana peel
| | | Re: abandoned coal mine - Glen Burn/Cameron colliery
<Reply # 3 on 3/27/2012 12:36 AM >
| | | | Very cool looking explore, and great info as well. I've seen some shots from the few remaining tidbits around the outside of this place. I believe the drains still exist from what I saw on a certain "underground enthusiast" website.
Great tips as well. Lots can go wrong inside an old, dank, blasted tunnel like a coal mine. Not to mention the gas and lack of air part of it. Sometimes people miss the part where coal mines used to have huge blowers to circulate fresh air throughout the network of tunnels to help reduce the dangers like you listed. I think there are only 1 or 2 older ones that I know of in that area that still exist although not working.
Again, excellent post man.
Exploring the distance between points A & B. |
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exMan
Location: near Williamsport, PA
Gender: Male
| | Re: abandoned coal mine - Glen Burn/Cameron colliery
<Reply # 4 on 3/28/2012 3:32 PM >
| | | | thanks for the kind words! wasn't sure how my first post would be received
regarding accessibility - i have no doubt the burn is still accessible which is why, even though i'm a new member, i made this post private. if you understand how deep coal mines are constructed, you'll understand why it's still open, however you're on your own as to a POE. the one we used collapsed. may seem contradictory that, on one hand, i say it's the safest mine i've ever been in and, on the other, the entrance has collapsed. the POE we used was the entrance to main haulage of the west drift - i.e., the main entrance to this particular tunnel system. the weakest point was apparently the first several meters and i speculate the reason is because the tunnel was not into solid rock yet (plus it passes under 2 roads at this point). all of the other POE's that i know of are technical and would require ropes, harnesses, descender, ascenders, gas detector, helmet and allot of balls as the likelihood of being pummeled by rocks is probably very high. if you don't have technical rock climbing and rope work experience, i would absolutely advise against it. that said, there may be (and probably are) other POE's i don't know of which may be safer. you'd need to look at a mine map to know more, or at least be familiar with the mine layout and the area.
regarding mine exploration - i haven't been in a coal mine in a very long time and, other than the burn, i have NO desire - they're just too bloody dangerous. there's many (probably hundreds) abandoned mines in the area and we've been in several. i cannot stress enough how dangerous most of them are - quite literally, if you so much as touch the wrong timber or rock, you're risking injury or death. the burn is an exception because of how it was constructed, as long you stay near main haulage. it's so bloody huge and there's so much cool stuff to see that it keeps tugging on me to come back
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exMan
Location: near Williamsport, PA
Gender: Male
| | Re: abandoned coal mine - Glen Burn/Cameron colliery
<Reply # 5 on 3/28/2012 3:56 PM >
| | | | Posted by OwlsFlight
...I've seen some shots from the few remaining tidbits around the outside of this place. I believe the drains still exist from what I saw on a certain "underground enthusiast" website. |
i don't know anything about any drains. maybe you're referring to the tunnels themselves? if there are drains in the area, they are likely simple ground water drains for the infrastructure that used to be there and i would highly doubt they're connected to the mine as the object is to keep water out
the website you're referring to - you mean The Underground Miners? that's a pretty good resource for all things mining - i should have linked to it earlier
also found a photo gallery - looks like the first 3 pages are all of the Glen Burn.
pretty good article on bootleg mining (Glen Burn wasn't a bootleg mine by any means) - The Great "Bootleg" Coal Industry
[last edit 3/28/2012 4:18 PM by exMan - edited 2 times]
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OwlsFlight
Location: Ehn Jay
One foot in the grave, the other on a banana peel
| | | Re: abandoned coal mine - Glen Burn/Cameron colliery
<Reply # 6 on 3/30/2012 12:59 AM >
| | | | Posted by exMan
i don't know anything about any drains. maybe you're referring to the tunnels themselves? if there are drains in the area, they are likely simple ground water drains for the infrastructure that used to be there and i would highly doubt they're connected to the mine as the object is to keep water out
the website you're referring to - you mean The Underground Miners? that's a pretty good resource for all things mining - i should have linked to it earlier
also found a photo gallery - looks like the first 3 pages are all of the Glen Burn.
pretty good article on bootleg mining (Glen Burn wasn't a bootleg mine by any means) - The Great "Bootleg" Coal Industry
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Hmm, maybe I'll have to check it out again. It's possible I'm confusing one from another from checking it out so long ago.
Yep, that's the site. Those guys are quite adventurous and really get around. The Ironminers site from the guys in NJ is also pretty cool. Seems safer to be in an iron mine anyway (well, as far as being safe in an abandoned mine is concerned! Lol)
And about the bootlegging, I've read about smaller mines all over the place up there in PA that were bootleg mines. I also did some reading about pillar robbing which seems a 1000 times more dangerous. It takes some hardy souls and a huge set of balls to make a living doing that stuff.
Exploring the distance between points A & B. |
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exMan
Location: near Williamsport, PA
Gender: Male
| | Re: abandoned coal mine - Glen Burn/Cameron colliery
<Reply # 7 on 3/30/2012 2:53 AM >
| | | | Posted by OwlsFlight
... And about the bootlegging, I've read about smaller mines all over the place up there in PA that were bootleg mines. I also did some reading about pillar robbing which seems a 1000 times more dangerous. It takes some hardy souls and a huge set of balls to make a living doing that stuff. |
you got that right. i worked inside briefly because it's all i could handle - maybe a month or so - with a dangerous crew in old workings where we were robbing pillars. those nuts must've broken every rule in the book not for me. i remember listening to creaking and crumbling on the PA after our shift was over.
went back to that mine years later and it was all but collapsed. if you know what a "set" is, the bottom of legs on some of the sets were pushed in until they nearly touched from the mountain moving - actually had to step over some of them. my friend that got me into exploring mines wouldn't even go in no more of that shit! sometimes i'm dumbfounded as to why i'm still alive today, much less in one piece
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exMan
Location: near Williamsport, PA
Gender: Male
| | Re: abandoned coal mine - Glen Burn/Cameron colliery
<Reply # 8 on 5/10/2012 9:38 PM >
| | | | i made this thread public - nothing secret here i don't think
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McNulty
This member has been banned. See the banlist for more information.
Location: MD/PA
Gender: Male
I am Dr. Kirkbride
| | Re: abandoned coal mine - Glen Burn/Cameron colliery
<Reply # 9 on 5/15/2012 2:30 AM >
| | | | Thats awesome man! I have been out to old coal buildings and all that and even found an open mine entrance by a breaker but never had the balls to go in.
You have big ones my friend.
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exMan
Location: near Williamsport, PA
Gender: Male
| | Re: abandoned coal mine - Glen Burn/Cameron colliery
<Reply # 10 on 5/18/2012 1:03 PM >
| | | | Posted by McNulty
Thats awesome man! I have been out to old coal buildings and all that and even found an open mine entrance by a breaker but never had the balls to go in.
You have big ones my friend.
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"had" would be the better word
i'd like to get back in the Burn because it huge, awesome and relatively safe, but i have 0 interest in typical, timbered coal mines anymore.
we explored the St. Nick coal breaker a couple times over the last week and that was pretty cool - lots of old machinery and huge gears. so much history in the area
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exMan
Location: near Williamsport, PA
Gender: Male
| | Re: abandoned coal mine - Glen Burn/Cameron colliery
<Reply # 11 on 2/24/2013 3:28 PM >
| | | | sorry for the broken images folks, but apparently i'm cannot edit my own post after 24 hrs
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Darkwolf
   
Mellow Moderator
Location: Florida... Again...
Gender: Male
I fix things!
| | Re: abandoned coal mine - Glen Burn/Cameron colliery
<Reply # 12 on 2/25/2013 12:21 AM >
| | | | Posted by exMan
sorry for the broken images folks, but apparently i'm cannot edit my own post after 24 hrs
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Is it an easy fix??? I might be able to fix it for you.
*Best Post Ever* any meetups to go to the malt plant? I'll join and be the first one over, so you know I'm not a cop. Also I'll bring beer. *DO NOT MESSAGE ME WITH ISSUES. PLEASE USE CONTACT A MODERATOR* |
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exMan
Location: near Williamsport, PA
Gender: Male
| | Re: abandoned coal mine - Glen Burn/Cameron colliery
<Reply # 13 on 3/4/2013 12:31 AM >
| | | | hi Darkwolf - thanks for the help!
actually it is an easy fix - all URI's need to be changed from...
12bytes.org/wp-content/
to...
12bytes/wordpress/wp-content/
example of a working URI...
http://12bytes.org...ads/burn-slime.gif
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Darkwolf
Mellow Moderator
Location: Florida... Again...
Gender: Male
I fix things!
| | Re: abandoned coal mine - Glen Burn/Cameron colliery
<Reply # 14 on 3/4/2013 12:58 AM >
| | | | Fixed bud!
*Best Post Ever* any meetups to go to the malt plant? I'll join and be the first one over, so you know I'm not a cop. Also I'll bring beer. *DO NOT MESSAGE ME WITH ISSUES. PLEASE USE CONTACT A MODERATOR* |
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exMan
Location: near Williamsport, PA
Gender: Male
| | Re: abandoned coal mine - Glen Burn/Cameron colliery
<Reply # 15 on 3/4/2013 3:05 PM >
| | | | thanks! much appreciated!
now that i'm more interested in photography, hopefully i'll get some more posts up
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